The Gadget: The Drive GPS 250 from Pharos offers text-to-speech functionality, a SiRFStarIII GPS receiver, a 4.3" touchscreen display, 32-bit CPU, NAVTEQ map and automatic night view-switching. Not bad when compared to other mid-range devices released by more mainstream companies.

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The Price: $299

The Verdict: The bottom line is that the Pharos Drive GPS 250 will get you from point A to point B. In my experiences, the device grabbed signals quickly and it worked fairly well in most normal situations—including an urban environment amid tall skyscrapers. Voice prompts were easy to follow, route calculations were generally accurate and recalculations were fast. That having been said, the route selections occasionally had me driving on some bizarre paths, the touchscreen functionality and the data input UI were ghetto, and the interpretation of road names often had me laughing my ass off. Still, the Pharos GPS 250 can hold its own amid more well known brands. All-in-all, not a bad choice for the price, and you could always sacrifice a little screen real-estate (3.5" as opposed to 4.3") and pick up the Drive GPS 150 for $200.